X-MEN: THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA
Issues: Uncanny X-Men 129-137 ��Writer: Chris Claremont ��Artist: John Byrne ��Characters: Wolverine, Phoenix, Cyclops, Colossus, Storm, Professor X, Nightcrawler, Beast, Angel, Hellfire Club, Imperial Guard
I'm a big X-Men fan (see movies) and the Dark Phoenix Saga is easily the standard-bearer of the X-Cannon. This story was the apex of X-Men's best creative team (Claremont/Byrne) featuring the most tragic moment in their history (issue 137), the first appearance of Kitty Pryde (129), and the defining single-issue Wolverine story ever (133). With Dark Phoenix, Claremont and Byrne were able to depict real emotion combined with the fantastic in a super-hero team book the better than anyone had before (or since).
DAREDEVIL: GUARDIAN DEVIL
Issues: Daredevil (series II) 1-8 ��Writer: Kevin Smith ��Artists: Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti ��Characters: Daredevil, Karen Paige, Foggy Nelson, Black Widow, Bullseye, Mysterio
Daredevil had always been a enigma- basically a second-string character (a poor-man's Spider-Man), yet in the right hand's DD has also been one of the most interesting characters in all of comics. So when Quesada and Palmiotti were launching their own imprint, Marvel Knights, featuring some of the Marvel Universe's also-ran characters they tabbed Daredevil as their torch-bearer. To accomplish this they enlisted movie writer/director Kevin Smith (see movies) to pen the re-launch issues. At first reluctant to follow in the footsteps of some of comicdom's best, Smith eventually attacked the project with vigeur, penning a story of intrigue laced in Catholic lore that not only launched DD into the top spot on Marvel's non-X roster, but helped re-vitalize the entire industry.
WATCHMEN
Issues: Watchmen 1-12 Writer: Alan Moore ��Artists: Dave Gibbons Characters: Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Nite Owl, Ozymandius, Silk Spectre
Moore is viewed as the Shakespeare of the comic industry, stretching and re-inventing the form, changing how comic's are viewed and the pre-conceptions of so-called "funny books". He has penned many of the industry's best stories, but "Watchmen" is his Hamlet. Generally considered the best comic story ever, Watchmen did nothing more then revolutionize the entire industry. The year was 1986 (the best comic year- ever) and the Moore's Cold War Opus Watchmen came out, turning comics on its ear. A dark, gritty tale depicted a post-hero world, a world on the brink of nuclear holocaust, and this world we see just how far a hero is willing to go. The result? Seemingly every comic went "dark", trying to keep up with a mini-series that could never be caught.
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
Writer: Frank Miller ��Artist: Frank Miller �� Characters: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Carrie Kelly, Superman, Joker, Commisioner Gordon
In 1986 while Alan Moore was writing Watchmen, Frank Miller was busy re-inventing the solo-hero comic with landmark Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: Year One and the four-part graphic novel mini-series, The Dark Knight Returns, all some the best comics ever-written (see what I was saying about 1986?). In Dark Knight, Miller depicted a middle-aged Bruce Wayne who retired the Batman 10 years prior, in the best Batman story ever. A world rushing closer to nuclear war, with a Gotham City gone mad, and mid-life crisis all combine to drive Wayne out of the Manor and into his costume. This landmark mini-series focused on the psychosis that drives a man to don the image of a bat, the problems of getting older and introduces the world to a new Robin, a female Robin and a fascist Superman (this is also considered by some to be the best Superman story ever as well). The series drew raves from Rolling Stone Magazine, and was the inspiration behind Tim Burton's blockbuster Batman movie.
THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE
Issues: X-Men: Alpha, Amazing X-Men 1-4, Astonishing X-Men 1-4, Factor X 1-4, Weapon X 1-4, Gambit and the X-ternals 1-4, X-Calibre 1-4, X-Man 1-4, Generation Next 1-4, X-Men Chronicles 1-2, X-Universe 1-2, X-Men: Omega
In 1995 Marvel asked the question: what if Charles Xavier never formed the X-Men? With that question as a starting point, Marvel interupted the runs of all its X-Men titles and spin-offs (9 in all) and started over with the Age of Apocalypse for a 4 month span. It began when Charles Xavier was killed in the past, by his own son travelling through time, before he had a chance to form his X-Men. As a result the villian Apocalypse was able to easily gain control of North America, twisting the world into his own Darwinian nightmare. Readers got to see all the characters they knew in a fresh new light: Magneto eventually formed the X-Men in honour of his late friend heriocally opposing Apocalypse, Cyclops and Havok served the evil Mr. Sinister, Gambit lead a team of thieves, and Wolverine was a mercenerary teamed with his lover, Jean Grey. This entire series was a breath of fresh air in what was (and still is) the world's most popular comic series (Scott Lobdell and Joe Madureira's Astonishing X-Men was the best of the series) serving as an example of what can happen when you're not afraid to take risks and not afraid to ask questions.
